WBB LOSE NAILBITER ON CAMERON’S LAST HOME GAME
(Sarah Cameron battles for ball)
For immediate Release: January 24, 2009
Kamloops, BC—The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack wanted very badly to win their final home game of the 2008-09 CIS Season. Not only for their home fans, but specifically for their lone 5 th year player. Sarah Cameron of Langley BC was playing her final Canada West game at the Tournament Capital Center on Saturday (Jan 24). The WolfPack nearly gave Cameron that gift. They just fell short to the visiting University of Victoria Vikes 63-54. The Vikes are now 13 and 6 on the season.
The teams were tied at 25 at the break, with the WolfPack up 41-39 at three quarter time. The game see sawed throughout the fourth, with the Vikes Ashley Yee (4th year, guard, Victoria, BC) scoring with less than two minutes left to give the Island girls a lead they would never relinquish.
“I thought we competed a lot better than we did last nite,” said Cameron, who finished with a game high 13 points and five defensive rebounds in 39 minutes of playing time. “ We seemed to have a lot more energy as a group. But it was a lot better effort.”
“Give credit to Scott (Reeves) and his coaching staff and the players.” Said Vikes coach Brian Cheng . “They came out with some unity and some emotion and conviction and a sense of urgency for their fifth year player. That was to be expected. They are a very classy group and they came out with a lot of character.”
Cheng felt TRU was more dominant than his team on the boards. “ I think they outrebounded us both nights (both teams had 41 in this game). We had a couple of people who were sick. But nonetheless, sick or not sick, they simply out competed us.”
Reeves agreed it was a better effort for his team (now 3 and 16) “ Everyone had to step it up. That was the focus: if they weren’t going to compete they wouldn’t be on the floor. We still turn over the ball too much. We led the rebounding for three quarters of the game, but they took over in the fourth.”
Victoria was led by Kayla Dykstra (3rd year, forward, Calgary, Alta). Although she was 3 for 12 from the free throw line, she had 11 rebounds (seven on defense) and 25 points. Jane Anholt (3rd year, guard, Victoria, BC) had 14 points.
For TRU: Kaitlyn Widsten (2nd year, guard, Tswwassen, BC) had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The WolfPack hit the road next weekend for games Friday (Jan 30) in Alberta and Saturday (Jan 31) in Saskatchewan. Victoria entertains Calgary on Friday and Lethbridge on Saturday.
FOUL SHOTS: Reeves on Cameron, whom he has coached for eight seasons (first in high school at Brookswood and then at TRU): “ We lie about her being 5’4”. She’s more like 5’2”. She has won a Provincial championship at the Triple “A” level and the challenges of trying to build a program from moving from college to CIS….and not just the CIS, the toughest league in the country. She has tremendous heart and character. “
Reeves on her legacy: “Somebody is going to have to take over her role. Not just hitting three’s and bringing the ball up the floor. She has the quality where I would call a time out and ask who should we give the ball to—everyone would point to Sarah. Its not because she would score 30 points, they feel comfortable with her having the ball. That’s an influence on a team which is a very special characteristic. Not everyone has that.”